Family stories and research stories that tell the tale of my personal research. If you have a similar family line or want to know more. Please contact me!

Monday, February 6, 2012

Stubborn isn't such a bad thing...

Most people consider the word “stubborn” to be a negative
one, but I have always considered stubborn to be an admirable if not
infuriating trait. It is a word that
describes my mother, both of my grandmothers and even my great
grandmothers. These women faced
challenges and rather than be cowed by the obstacle, they rose to meet them.

My grandmother, Marian Gage Johnson, could have been
described by anyone as being strong-willed and capable. As a young woman growing up during the
depression, she worked away from her family to help support them during the
depression. Her choice wasn’t to cry for
pity but to do something about her situation.
I would define “stubborn” as someone who makes the best out of their
circumstances without being defeated by them.
As a young wife, she worked just as hard as her husband to make the best
life for their family. During her
childhood, she learned out to make bread, cook meals, make clothes, can and
preserve meat and vegetables. She used
those skills to make sure her family had the best she could provide. After her oldest children left home, she
worked as cook to help supplement the family income. When Grandma Marian and Grandpa Frank moved
to Oregon and started a new life…she took jobs working in a chicken plant and
later a tool factory…especially when her husband’s health prevented him from
working. No matter what the challenge…Grandma
Marian didn’t back down.

Of course, there were times when that stubbornness and drive
to improve her situation could be a bit of a problem. My father recalls his mother wanting to
enclose the porch of their house to add on to the kitchen. It was a great idea, but the wall she wanted
to remove was a load bearing wall. One
day, my father and his Dad arrived home to find that Grandma Marian had taken
the wall down. Both hurriedly put
supporting posts up to support the house.
All her children and grandchildren can remember Grandma’s penchant for
trying to organize things. I can
remember going to Canby to visit and Grandma was determined that despite the
distance, her family would continue to know each other. So, every visit to the Portland area involved
visits to several family members.

After she moved to Lewiston about 10 years ago, Grandma
Marian embraced the new life near her three older children and nearby siblings. Despite the fact that her joints made moving
about painful, she occupied her time with numerous activities. These activities included scanning pictures,
emailing friends and family, doing jigsaw puzzles and enjoying her TV. Grandma Marian continued all her life to
learn new things and make new friends.

When I see someone who continues to learn new things, make their
life and those around them better, and try to improve their life not matter
what the challenges and do it with a spirited attitude rather than complaining about
their circumstance – I call that stubborn.
No matter what comes their way – these type of people refuse to let “it”
defeat them. There are lot of stubborn
qualities that I admire, so, you might say that I strive to try to be “stubborn!”